Most of the time most of us accept ‘reality’ as we see it, hear it, feel, smell or taste it. Our concept of the world is an evolving composition of sensory experiences, and the thoughts we have about those ‘actual’ experiences.
But how do we know our particular sense of ‘the world’ is the same as the person’s who is sitting next to us? And what happens to our version of the world when we’re no longer here to sustain it? These metaphysical questions are raised by Harry’s voyages into the murals of Chemainus, and when Buddy Hope goes to fetch Harry from Mural #36 – The Hermit, he is confronted with the puzzling existence of his ancient friend’s alternative realities.
This uncertainty, and Buddy’s scepticism about Harry’s travels through time and place via the murals, fascinates me. The murals beg the question, what is here-and-now, by inviting us to step fancifully into alternative thens-and-theres. The assumption is we are just having a bit of fun. Harry, though, departs from that stabilizing assumption by actually going into the walls and experiencing their scenes as real.
In defence of our own peace of mind, we label that kind of detour ‘crazy’.
Buddy’s challenge, as Harry’s friend and protégé, will be to accept the truth and significance of Harry’s visions even if he can’t experience them as ‘real’ himself. That’s my challenge, too, as an author, and my challenge to readers. Buddy’s willingness to honour his companion’s world-view, then begin opening his mind to the wondrous layerings of time and place intermingling in any gathering of humans, is the journey through The Mural Gazer.